Juventus Season 2011-2012

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juve and Napoli name squads

Mar 31, 2012

Juventus welcome back Stephan Lichtsteiner, while Napoli have Christian Maggio in the squad going to Turin.

Both Coaches named their sides for the big Sunday night showdown at the Juventus Stadium.

Antonio Conte can once again count on Lichtsteiner, who missed last week’s win against Inter due to suspension.

Napoli welcome Maggio back from injury, so only Marco Donadel is now on the treatment table.

Juventus squad: Buffon, Chiellini, Caceres, Pepe, Marchisio, Del Piero, De Ceglie, Manninger, Vucinic, Barzagli, Quagliarella, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Borriello, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Estigarribia, Storari, Matri, Marrone

Napoli squad: De Sanctis, Rosati, Colombo, Aronica, Britos, Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Fernandez, Dossena, Dzemaili, Gargano, Hamsik, Inler, Maggio, Zuniga, Cavani, Lavezzi, Pandev, Vargas, Ammendola

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Conte considering Borriello or Quagliarella for Napoli clash

The Bianconeri duo have managed just two goals between them this season but one

or the other is set to earn a recall for a game that is vital in terms of the Scudetto race.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has revealed that he is considering starting either Marco Borriello or Fabio Quagliarella in Sunday night’s crunch Serie A clash with Napoli.

Borriello has yet to score a single goal since joining the Bianconeri on loan from Roma in January, while Quagliarella has netted just twice this season after recovering from a serious knee injury last January.

However, Conte has revealed that both are in the reckoning for a game that Juventus will be desperately hoping to win in order to reduce their deficit to league leaders AC Milan to just two points.

“Either Borriello or Quagliarella could start,” the former Bianconeri midfielder told reporters on Saturday. “They’ve both got an extraordinary motivation to play.

“Quagliarella has had to overcome the after effects of his injury and is now getting back to his level.

“Things would have gone different for Borriello had he arrived in June, but he’s settling in and could be important.”

While Milan’s surprise draw in Catania on Saturday underlines that Juve retain every chance of winning the Scudetto this year, Conte insists that his primary focus is on securing a return to the grandest stage in European football.

“Winning tomorrow would be an important step towards qualifying for the Champions League,” he mused. “Securing direct qualification would be something extraordinary.

"However, we know that we have a testing encounter ahead against a team who have done well in the Coppa Italia.

“They’ve also done remarkable things in the Champions League and perhaps a bit more experience would have seen them in the semi-finals.

“It’s a tough fixture, so we’ll focus on ourselves without looking at the others.”

The Bianconeri's meeting with Napoli at Juventus Stadium gets underway at 20.45CET.

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[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

If Juventus had Edinson Cavani, they would have

almost won the Scudetto already

With the prolific Partenopei forward in town tonight, the Bianconeri will get another

chance to run the rule over a striker who would most likely solve their goalscoring problems.

Apr 1, 2012

Speculation is mounting in Italy that Juventus will make a move for Napoli’s Edinson Cavani during the summer. Whether the Bianconeri are really capable of winning a likely bidding war with Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain for one of the most highly-rated forwards in Europe is debatable. What is beyond dispute, though, is that Antonio Conte’s team is in dire need of such a prolific forward.

Juve are currently five points off top spot in Serie A but they can reduce their arrears to just two points if they overcome Napoli in Turin on Sunday night. The title race, it seems, is likely to go right to the wire.

That Juventus have managed to sustain their Scudetto challenge, though, is quite remarkable given the conspicuous absence of a free-scoring striker amongst their frontline. Indeed, ahead of the visit of Napoli, it is difficult not to suspect that if Juventus had a frontman of the calibre of Cavani, the title race would already be run.

Juve are, after all, just nine games away from becoming only the third side to go through an entire Serie A season undefeated. Yet, in spite of this, they are playing catch-up to a Milan side that has been bedevilled by injuries this season and that has also had to cope with the added burden of European competition.

The reason for this is obvious from just a quick glance at the Serie A table: too many draws. Fourteen of the Bianconeri’s 29 games this season have finished level. Of course, in some instances, a point was a fine outcome for Juventus, most notably at the San Paolo in November when they twice came from two goals down to draw 3-3 with Napoli, and in their San Siro showdown with Scudetto rivals Milan in February.

However, Juventus have bossed countless games this season only to fail to turn their dominance into goals. In this regard, the Bianconeri have been badly let down by their forwards.

Alessandro Matri is the club’s top scorer, having netted 10 times in the league, and it would be wrong to be overly critical of the former Cagliari man, particularly in light of his goals-to-shot ratio of 15.62 per cent, which compares reasonably with that of Cavani (20%).

However, it is clear that he does not retain the full confidence of his coach, as evidenced by the fact that he was left on the bench for the crunch clash with Milan last month. That he subsequently came on to snatch a point for the visitors underlined his value to Juve.

We are talking about a talented forward who works incredibly hard for his team – he chased back fully 50 metres to reclaim possession for his side during the recent win over Fiorentina – but Conte seems to share the commonly held view that Matri is not, and never will be, a truly world-class striker. It seems that in the coach’s eyes, he is merely the best of a bad bunch.

Conte, of course, needs no reminding of how great a player Alessandro Del Piero once was, but judging by how little game time the legendary marksman has seen this season, the former Bianconeri midfielder clearly feels that ‘was’ is the key word. Such an opinion seems a tad harsh on Del Piero, particularly in light of his impressive performance in the Coppa Italia clash with Milan and the starring show against Inter which followed, but there is no denying that the 2006 World Cup winner is a fading force.

At 28, Mirko Vucinic should be in his prime but the Montenegrin has only recently begun to show why Juventus paid Roma €15 million for his services last summer. As he proved in the 5-0 demolition of Fiorentina at the Artemio Franchi and again in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Milan, he is a player of many attributes. However, as his return of five goals from 76 shots so far this season painfully underlines, ruthlessness in front of goal is not one of them.

Fabio Quagliarella, meanwhile, has simply not been the same player since a knee ligament injury interrupted the most promising of starts to his Juventus career and there have been suggestions that while he has recovered physically, he is still struggling mentally.

As for Marco Borriello, well, he has always been more prolific off the field than on it, but his regression is actually quite astonishing and having failed to score a single goal in his seven Serie A appearances to date, the former Milan forward is destined to be sent packing back to Roma when his loan deal expires at the end of the season.

Consequently, it is hardly surprising that Juventus have begun the hunt for a new forward already. That they have reportedly set their sights on Cavani is hardly surprising. Unlike their other alleged transfer targets, Fernando Torres and Gonzalo Higuain, he has a proven track record in Serie A, having scored 45 goals in 62 league games for Napoli since arriving from Palermo in the summer of 2010.

The Uruguay international has wonderful predatory instincts and a useful knack for getting in behind defences – skills that Juventus are currently crying out for. Of course, Napoli’s game is founded on their counterattacking prowess and on several occasions this term they have struggled to break down sides that have been content to sit deep and invite the Partenopei onto them.

However, Cavani has proven time and time again that he can create space for himself in the most congested of penalty areas, with his recent equaliser against Udinese a wonderful case in point.

It is difficult to foresee Juventus stumping up the alleged €80m transfer fee Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis will demand for his most prized asset but, as the old adage goes, sometimes one has to speculate in order to accumulate. Goals win games and Cavani guarantees them in abundance.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Caceres: Difficult to stop Cavani

The on-loan Sevilla man has enjoyed playing alongside the Partenopei striker

for the Uruguayan national team but he could end up marking 'El Matador' in Turin.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus defender Martin Caceres is desperate to start in Sunday night's crucial Serie A clash with Napoli but concedes that if he does play, he will face an onerous task in trying to nullify the threat posed by compatriot Edinson Cavani.

The Bianconeri go into the game knowing that a victory will draw them to within two points of league leaders AC Milan, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Catania on Saturday.

However, Caceres is taking nothing for a granted against a side spearheaded by a forward whose talents he is very familiar with.

"I hope to play," the on-loan Sevilla man told TuttoNapoli.net. "But Edinson, I have known him for many years; since we met up in the national team ...

"Stopping him is difficult because, even when he doesn't score, he drives you crazy with his runs."

Napoli's clash with the Bianconeri at Juventus Stadium gets underway at 20.45CET.

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[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Serie A Preview - Old Lady aim to continue title challenge

as Mazzarri's men look to step up Champions League chase

Antonio Conte's side are back on the winning trail following a run of draws, but now

face a Partenopei outfit keen to recover from last week's disappointing draw with Catania.

Apr 1, 2012

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

JUVENTUS

Buffon

Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini

Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie

Matri, Vucinic

NAPOLI

De Sanctis

Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica

Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Zuniga

Hamsik

Lavezzi, Cavani

Juventus have a full squad to choose from for the visit of Napoli on Sunday, but it is likely that coach Antonio Conte will utilise a 3-5-2 formation during the match.

The trainer used his tried-and-trusted 4-3-3 against Inter last week, but it is expected that goalscorers Martin Caceres and Alessandro Del Piero will be benched in favour of Leonardo Bonucci and Stephan Lichtsteiner, while there will be no place for Simone Pepe.

Meanwhile for Napoli, a number of changes look set to take place from the 2-2 draw with Catania a week ago. The alterations start in defence, as Hugo Campagnaro has returned to the fold and should replace Federico Fernandez.

Elsewhere, Andrea Dossena and Blerim Dzemaili will be dropped to accommodate Christian Maggio and Gokhan Inler in midfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 131 previous Serie A meetings, Juventus have won 58 times against Napoli, compared to their rivals' 28 victories.

• However, the Partenopei are unbeaten in their last five games against the Old Lady.

• Alessandro Matri has already netted five goals against the Partenopei.

• The Bianconeri have failed to score in just one of their last 19 games at home.

• Napoli are unbeaten in the last nine Serie A matches, but have drawn their last two.

• Walter Mazzarri's side have shipped seven goals over their last three fixtures in the league.

• Marek Hamsik has scored five goals against Juventus; more than against any other club.

• Napoli have netted 145 strikes against the Old Lady, the most against in Italy's top-flight division.

Head to Head

Serie A ‎- Nov 29, 2011 - SSC Napoli 3 - Juventus 3

Serie A ‎- May 22, 2011 - Juventus 2 - SSC Napoli 2

Serie A ‎- Jan 9, 2011 - SSC Napoli 3 - Juventus 0

Serie A ‎- Mar 25, 2010 - SSC Napoli 3 - Juventus 1

Coppa Italia ‎- Jan 13, 2010 - Juventus 3 - SSC Napoli 0

Last Five Matches

Juventus

Mar 25, 2012 - Juventus 2 - FC Internazionale 0 - Serie A

Mar 20, 2012 - Juventus 2 - AC Milan 2 - Coppa Italia

Mar 17, 2012 - Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 5 - Serie A

Mar 11, 2012 - Genoa 0 - Juventus 0 - Serie A

Mar 7, 2012 - Bologna 1 - Juventus 1 - Serie A

SSC Napoli

Mar 25, 2012 - SSC Napoli 2 - Catania 2 - Serie A

Mar 21, 2012 - SSC Napoli 2 - Siena 0 - Coppa Italia

Mar 18, 2012 - Udinese 2 - SSC Napoli 2 - Serie A

Mar 14, 2012 - Chelsea FC 4 - SSC Napoli 1 - UCL

Mar 9, 2012 - SSC Napoli 6 - Cagliari 3 - Serie A

Players to Watch

Mirko Vučinić

The Montenegrin attacker is in brilliant form, coming off three wonderful displays in which he scored one and set up three more against Fiorentina before sending Juve to the Coppa Italia final with a spectacular extra-time goal against AC Milan. Another equally-impressive performance against Inter was witnessed, where he was unfortunate to not get on the scoresheet, so Conte will be hoping for more of the same on Sunday.

Edinson Cavani

El Matador scored last Wednesday to propel Napoli past Siena and into the Coppa Italia final, and also against Catania, although his efforts were in vain. The Uruguay international will be leading the line for his team at Juventus Stadium and is sure to be fired up for the encounter, as the Partenopei desperately need a win to keep pace in the race for the final Champions League spot.

Prediction

Napoli have no trouble in scoring, but it's their deficiencies at the back that will cost them once more against Juventus, and possibly the chance of finishing in a Champions League spot at the end of the season. Juve, meanwhile, are very much experiencing the opposite, but they have recently rediscovered their scoring touch, so a slender victory for the hosts should suffice.

Editor's Prediction

Juventus 2 - 1 Napoli

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[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

MATCH PREVIEW

Apr 1, 2012

Neither Juventus nor Napoli can afford to drop points at the Juventus Stadium on Sunday as they persist with respective ladder duels.

Juve kept to within four points of leaders Milan with an emotional Derby d’Italia win over Inter last weekend, as they pursue their first Scudetto since Calciopoli. Pivotal saves from Gianluigi Buffon, as well as strikes from Martin Caceres and captain Alessandro Del Piero sealed the win and extended the season’s unbeaten League streak to 29 matches.

As Antonio Conte noted, the fate of the Scudetto ultimately rests in Rossoneri hands and he knows Juventus can only continue to win matches in order to sustain the pressure. After their provincial struggles throughout February and March, the past week has seen a marked improvement from the Old Lady to fend off three rivals - Fiorentina, Milan and Inter.

Emanuele Giaccherini returns from injury and Stephan Lichtsteiner from suspension to guarantee Conte a full squad. He may revert to the 3-5-2 formation which helped defeat Inter and was in use during the meeting with the Partenopei back in November.

Napoli boss Walter Mazzarri lamented his side’s inability to deal with late set-pieces which cost them victory over Catania last weekend. Blerim Dzemaili and Edinson Cavani had put the Azzurri two goals ahead after the interval, yet a lack of concentration helped the Sicilian’s claw back the deficit and leave with a point.

It could be a crucial slip-up in the battle for third place, with Napoli currently sandwiched on 48 points between Lazio and Udinese. Despite successive draws, their nine-match unbeaten streak ensures Napoli are right in the hunt for a second crack at the Champions League. Ahead of their direct showdown with Lazio next weekend they will be aiming for winning momentum.

Marco Donadel remains on the sidelines, otherwise Mazzarri can count on all his regulars.

Past results in this fixture do not favour Napoli, who have won just seven times in Turin over the years compared to Juve’s 39. There have been 20 draws, including last season’s 2-2 thriller.

Keep an eye on: Arturo Vidal (Juventus) – The Chilean was everywhere against Inter and gave one of his best performances in a black and white shirt. In what could prove to be a tight tussle in the centre of midfield, Vidal’s drive and energy will be vital for Juve.

Form guide: Juventus (D D D W W) Napoli (W W W D D)

Last season: Juventus 2-2 Napoli

Stat fact: Between 1958-59 and 1985-86 Juventus enjoyed a 25-match unbeaten run in Turin versus Napoli, including 16 wins.

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Caceres, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Vucinic, Matri

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Zuniga; Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Juventus v Napoli: Preview

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is full of admiration for the job Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has done this season.

Buffon has spoken of his respect for the Tuscan tactician ahead of the meeting between the two sides tomorrow in Turin.

"Mazzarri has done an excellent job,'' Buffon said.

"Napoli is the Italian team that I admire the most.

"Alongside us, they are the team that plays the most entertaining football and that is Mazzarri's doing.''

The Bianconeri go into the encounter on the back of a 2-0 triumph over Inter Milan last weekend that kept the Turin giants in second place, four points behind Serie A leaders AC Milan with nine games remaining.

Juventus, coached by Antonio Conte, are unbeaten this season but expect to be tested on Sunday.

"It's going to be a big challenge for us,'' Buffon said.

"But we want to win in order to keep up the pressure on leaders AC Milan.

"Napoli are fourth in the standings, three points behind Lazio, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Napoli are determined to return to play in Europe's top club competition next season after being eliminated in the round of 16 by Chelsea earlier this month.

"Our focus is firmly on finishing in the top three,'' Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi said.

"We have to win as many games as possible.

"We know it's going to be tough to end Juventus' unbeaten run but are ready and determined.''

Tomorrow's game will be the first of two meetings between the two sides from here until the end of the season as Napoli will take on Juventus in the Coppa Italia final on May 20.

Napoli will be bolstered by the return of defenders Gianluca Grava and Hugo Campagnaro as well as midfielder Christian Maggio.

The trio missed last weekend's 2-2 draw against Catania through injury.

Conte will have all of his players available.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Luigi Daniele 68]

Let's win this. Most important match of the season, arguably

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

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Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Borriello starts for Juventus against Napoli

The striker has failed to score in his seven previous Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri

but has been paired with Mirko Vucinic as Antonio Conte reverts to a 3-5-2 formation.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has recalled Marco Borriello for Sunday's crunch Serie A clash with Napoli in Turin.

The forward has failed to score a single Serie A goal for the Bianconeri since arriving on loan from Roma in January but he has been preferred to Alessandro Matri up front alongside Mirko Vucinic, with Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Del Piero again named among the substitutes.

Simone Pepe drops to the bench as Juve switch to 3-5-2, with Stephan Lichtsteiner getting the nod ahead of Martin Caceres on the right-hand side.

Leonardo Bonucci has been recalled and will start alongside Andrea Barzagli and Giorgio Chiellini at the back for the Bianconeri.

As for the visitors, Christian Maggio returns from injury to reclaim the right wing berth from Andrea Dossena, while Paolo Cannavaro slots back into the defence in place of Federico Fernandez.

The final change sees Blerim Dzemaili make way for Walter Gargano in the middle of the park.

Juventus (3-5-2): Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Borriello, Vucinic.

Subs: Storari, Caceres, Pepe, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Matri, Del Piero.

Napoli (3-4-3): De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Zuniga; Hamsik, Cavani, Lavezzi.

Subs: Rosati, Fernandez, Britos, Dossena, Dezemaili, Pandev, Vargas.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Line-ups: Juventus-Napoli

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus have chosen Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic against Napoli’s Three Tenors in a huge showdown tonight, but tactics are revamped.

The Juventus Stadium hosts a classic fixture of Serie A, one that ended 3-3 when these sides met in Naples earlier this season and will be renewed in the Coppa Italia Final on May 20.

Borriello is the surprise pick against his hometown club, leaving Alessandro Matri and Alessandro Del Piero on the bench.

It’s believed Antonio Conte hopes Borriello can take advantage of the problems Napoli have defending in the air.

Stephan Lichtsteiner returns from suspension in a 3-5-2 system that mirrors that of Napoli with Paolo De Ceglie the other attacking wing-back.

Napoli only miss Marco Donadel, as Christian Maggio returns to the starting XI after an injury lay-off.

The Three Tenors are present and correct with Marek Hamsik, Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Borriello, Vucinic

Juventus bench: Storari, Caceres, Pepe, Giaccherini, Quagliarella, Matri, Del Piero

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Inler, Zuniga; Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani

Napoli bench: Rosati, Fernandez, Britos, Dossena, Dzemaili, Pandev, Vargas

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

-

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

HT: Juve-Napoli stalemate

Apr 1, 2012

Andrea Pirlo went close, Marco Borriello and Marek Hamsik wasted changes, but it’s still 0-0 at the break between Juventus and Napoli.

This has always been a huge battle in Serie A, but this time they were going head-to-head for Champions League places. Juve needed to take advantage of Milan’s slip-up to close the gap at the top of the table, while Napoli had to do the same after Lazio and Udinese were beaten in the race for third this weekend.

Both sides essentially had full squads to choose from and Antonio Conte mirrored their 3-5-2 system with Stephan Lichtsteiner returning from suspension as a wing-back. Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic were picked in attack, hoping to make the most of Napoli’s weakness at defending in the air. Christian Maggio returned from injury to start with the Three Tenors.

Andrea Pirlo’s cross to the back post from the left flashed across the face of goal, but Borriello only glanced the header wide from under six yards. Another Borriello header was well off target from Lichtsteiner’s cross.

The first Napoli chance was on 13 minutes, but Marek Hamsik’s touch let him down when going past Gigi Buffon and gave away a goal kick.

A Pirlo free kick sailed over the bar from distance, but at the other end Leonardo Bonucci was at full stretch to intercept a dangerous Camilo Zuniga cross into the six-yard box. Bad news for Napoli, as Maggio’s comeback lasted only 25 minutes before he limped off again in favour of Andrea Dossena.

Arturo Vidal’s glancing header flicked a Pirlo free kick across the face of goal to skim the far post. Hamsik blasted over the bar from distance and the tension got to Lichtsteiner, who was booked for dissent.

The first actual shot on target was a Pirlo free kick that Morgan De Sanctis rather comfortably smothered at the near post. Vidal picked up a yellow card for going straight through Hamsik outside the box, but Lavezzi curled the free kick over the bar.

Dossena charged down a Vidal volley in the area, but Juve went closer on 44 minutes when De Sanctis got down to palm a curling Pirlo free kick out for a corner at the base of the near post.

Juventus 0-0 Napoli (Half-Time)

Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Borriello, Vucinic

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio (Dossena 25), Gargano, Inler, Zuniga; Hamsik, Lavezzi; Cavani

Ref: Orsato

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Turin giants produce strong second-half display

and close gap to leaders AC Milan to two points

Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella were all on target

as the in-form Bianconeri cranked up the pressure on the Rossoneri at the top of the table.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus underlined their title credentials with an ultimately facile 3-0 victory over Napoli in Turin on Sunday night.

After a dour first half, the Bianconeri opened the scoring midway through the second period when Leonardo Bonucci deflected a short from Mirko Vucinic past a helpless Morgan De Sanctis.

Arturo Vidal scored a sublime second before substitute Fabio Quagliarella completed the rout with a late third.

Both sides initially appeared intent on picking up where they left off at the San Paolo in November, treating us to a wonderfully open start to the game.

The hosts looked particularly menacing and really should have taken the lead just four minutes in but Marco Borriello – surprisingly recalled to the Juventus starting lineup – inexplicably failed to get his head on the end of the most delicious delivery from Pirlo. Borriello did manage to connect with a Stephan Lichtsteiner cross moments later but the on-loan forward’s header flashed wide.

The Partenopei then gave Juve an almighty scare on 13 minutes when Hamsik found himself in on goal after a delightful one-two with Ezequiel Lavezzi but in trying to take the ball around the onrushing Gianluigi Buffon, the Slovakian knocked it too far ahead of himself and it rolled harmlessly out of play.

After such a promising opening, the game deteriorated rapidly thereafter, with Juve only threatening sporadically through set-pieces from Pirlo, while Napoli were restricted to nothing more than long-range strikes from the likes of Hamsik.

The second half continued in the same vain so the source of the game’s opening goal came as no surprise, Napoli failing to deal with a free-kick from Pirlo from the right-hand side which bobbled around in the box before Bonucci diverted a hopeful effort from Vucinic into the back of the net.

The visitors tried to rally but to absolutely no avail and Vidal deservedly doubled the home side’s advantage when he fired home after turning Hugo Campagnaro inside out.

The Bianconeri put the seal on a victory which draws them to within points of Serie A leaders AC Milan when De Sanctis somehow allowed a shot from Quagliarella to beat him at his near post.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juve sweep Napoli aside!

Juventus stepped on the accelerator in the second half

and swept Napoli aside 3-0 to take themselves within two points of leaders Milan.

Apr 1, 2012

This has always been a huge battle in Serie A, but this time they were going head-to-head for Champions League places. Juve needed to take advantage of Milan’s slip-up to close the gap at the top of the table, while Napoli had to do the same after Lazio and Udinese were beaten in the race for third this weekend.

Both sides essentially had full squads to choose from and Antonio Conte mirrored their 3-5-2 system with Stephan Lichtsteiner returning from suspension as a wing-back. Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic were picked in attack, hoping to make the most of Napoli’s weakness at defending in the air. Christian Maggio returned from injury to start with the Three Tenors.

Andrea Pirlo’s cross to the back post from the left flashed across the face of goal, but Borriello only glanced the header wide from under six yards. Another Borriello header was well off target from Lichtsteiner’s cross.

The first Napoli chance was on 13 minutes, but Marek Hamsik’s touch let him down when going past Gigi Buffon and gave away a goal kick.

A Pirlo free kick sailed over the bar from distance, but at the other end Leonardo Bonucci was at full stretch to intercept a dangerous Camilo Zuniga cross into the six-yard box. Bad news for Napoli, as Maggio’s comeback lasted only 25 minutes before he limped off again in favour of Andrea Dossena.

Arturo Vidal’s glancing header flicked a Pirlo free kick across the face of goal to skim the far post. Hamsik blasted over the bar from distance and the tension got to Lichtsteiner, who was booked for dissent.

The first actual shot on target was a Pirlo free kick that Morgan De Sanctis rather comfortably smothered at the near post. Vidal picked up a yellow card for going straight through Hamsik outside the box, but Lavezzi curled the free kick over the bar.

Dossena charged down a Vidal volley in the area, but Juve went closer on 44 minutes when De Sanctis got down to palm a curling Pirlo free kick out for a corner at the base of the near post.

After the restart Napoli risked an own goal, as Hugo Campagnaro’s header to clear a Pirlo free kick was palmed off the line by De Sanctis.

Juventus were piling on the pressure at the dawn of the second half and broke the deadlock from a Pirlo free kick that ricocheted around the box until Mirko Vucinic’s strike from 12 yards took a decisive deflection off Leonardo Bonucci to wrong-foot De Sanctis.

Vucinic did get the ball in the net soon after, but was flagged offside in a very tight decision. Goran Pandev replaced Gokhan Inler, moving Hamsik into a deeper role. Fabio Quagliarella replaced the disappointing Borriello to face his former club.

De Sanctis parried a long-range Claudio Marchisio strike to spark a Pandev counter, when Marchisio brought him down for a yellow card.

Juve doubled their lead with a sensational solo effort from Vidal, who confused Campagnaro with a series of step-overs and smashed it across De Sanctis into the far top corner of the net.

It was almost 3-0 moments later, as Vucinic spotted the Napoli goalkeeper off his line and attempted an audacious lob that was just wide.

Cavani’s long-range daisy-cutter was off target, while Martin Caceres tested De Sanctis at the near post.

Quagliarella got a third and refused to celebrate against his hometown club. Alessandro Del Piero created an assist with practically his first touch, rolling across to Quagliarella for a powerful strike between De Sanctis and the near post.

More bad news for Napoli, as Zuniga was sent off for lashing out with an elbow to free himself from Giorgio Chiellini’s embrace. It was right in front of the linesman, who could not fail to see the gesture.

Del Piero aimed a couple of efforts off target with solo runs, then a third attempt was well beaten away by De Sanctis.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Juventus: Buffon; Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Caceres 65), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Borriello (Quagliarella 70), Vucinic (Del Piero 82)

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio (Dossena 25), Gargano, Inler (Pandev 61), Zuniga; Hamsik (Dzemaili 71), Lavezzi; Cavani

Ref: Orsato

Sent off: Zuniga 86 (N)

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juve close gap at summit

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus reduced the arrears on AC Milan at the top of Serie A to two points thanks to a 3-0 win over fourth-placed Napoli at the Juventus Stadium.

Goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella provided the perfect response to Milan's draw with Catania yesterday as the two-team battle for the Scudetto intensified.

Napoli ended the game with 10 men after losing Juan Zuniga in the second half, and they joined fellow Champions League-chasing sides Udinese and Lazio in losing this weekend, leaving Roma as the real benefactors with a win over Novara today bringing them back into contention for third spot.

Andrea Pirlo was the dangerman in a bright opening for the home side.

Napoli simply did not learn their lesson as they kept committing fouls around their own penalty area, and each time, the Italy international posed a threat.

In the fifth minute Marco Borriello was only an inch away from heading in his teasing free-kick from close range.

After half an hour, another Pirlo free-kick was headed wide of the far post by Vidal before another free-kick was almost diverted in by a Napoli defender, but Morgan de Sanctis got his fingertips to the ball to push it away.

Napoli gave away another free-kick in the 53rd minute which Pirlo again sent the ball into the danger area, where it broke loose to Mirko Vucinic. His shot deflected in off the knee of Bonucci, who took credit for a goal he knew little about.

Vucinic was on target five minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for what seemed like an incorrect offside decision.

Juve deservedly doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Vidal did a few stepovers during which it was not clear whether even he knew where he was going, but he took the ball forward with his left foot and shot across De Sanctis into the far corner, showing he was indeed in full control.

A minute later, Vucinic spotted De Sanctis off his goal line and tried his luck from the halfway line with the Napoli goalkeeper scampering back and diving despairingly only to see the ball land just wide.

Alessandro del Piero's first touch after coming on as a substitute was to set up his fellow sub Quagliarella for the third in the 83rd minute.

The former Napoli striker beat De Sanctis inside his near post, but did not celebrate his goal.

Zuniga let off steam three minutes later, receiving his marching orders for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini just in front of the linesman.

It was a fitting end to a frustrating night for Napoli, who remain three points behind third-placed Lazio.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juventus ease past Napoli to close gap on leaders AC Milan

Apr 1, 2012

Undefeated Juventus closed the gap to AC Milan at the top of the Serie A table to just two points with a 3-0 win over Napoli in Turin on Sunday.

Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella scored the goals as Juve capitalised on Milan's 1-1 draw at Catania the day before.

It also maintained their unbeaten run this season, which now stands at 34 games in all competitions.

"It's a crucial victory because it all but wraps up second place and that's already amazing given where we started," said Juve coach Antonio Conte.

"We'll keep an eye above us because that's only right as should Milan slip up we have to try to be ready. But it's Milan's to lose."

Napoli's defeat means they stay fourth, three points behind Lazio in the final Champions League qualification position. They also had Juan Zuniga sent off late on for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini.

Their main problem, though, was being guilty of giving away too many free-kicks in potentially dangerous positions.

The opening goal came early in the second period and was due in no small part to luck, although Napoli were finally made to pay for their ill-discipline.

Andrea Pirlo swung over another free-kick that Andrea Barzagli mishit, the ball falling to Mirko Vucinic, who crashed a shot off Bonucci's chest and past a stranded Morgan De Sanctis.

Now able to hit Napoli on the counter, Juve made their visitors pay as Vidal turned Hugo Campagnaro inside out and smashed a shot across De Sanctis. Quagliarella then beat the goalkeeper at his near post with a fierce shot seven minutes from time.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juventus moves within 2 points of AC Milan

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus beat Napoli 3-0 Sunday to move within two points of Serie A leader AC Milan and set up an enticing battle for the Italian league title with eight rounds remaining.

Leonardo Bonucci scored from the center of the area in the 53rd minute at the Juventus Stadium, Arturo Vidal found the target in the 75th with an impressive solo effort, and Fabio Quagliarella finished off a counterattack in the 83rd as Juventus dominated from start to finish in a preview of the Italian Cup final.

Napoli was reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes after Juan Zuniga was sent off for elbowing Giorgio Chiellini in the face.

Milan was held to a 1-1 draw at Catania on Sunday and faces a tough test at Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, following a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the San Siro.

Juventus, which remained undefeated in all competitions this season, holds the tiebreaker over Milan, with a win and a draw head-to-head.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juventus 3-0 Napoli: 3-5-2 v 3-4-3

Apr 1, 2012

The starting line-ups

Juventus were by far the better side – they move two points behind leaders Milan.

Antonio Conte, as expected, moved to 3-5-2 with Paolo De Ceglie the left wing-back. There was a surprise upfront, where Alessandro Matri was left out, and Marco Borriello partnered Mirko Vucinic.

Walter Mazzarri’s first XI is always easy to predict, and there were no surprises in the usual 3-4-3 shape.

The reverse fixture was goal-crazy (although a fascinating tactical battle too) – this was much tighter, and less interesting than it should have been. It’s rare to get a formation battle like this – although Conte has generally played a three-man defence against a three-man defence – having done so twice against Udinese, and now twice against Napoli.

Battlegrounds

Perhaps the players were prepared for the situation, because the battle in the first half was lacking in excitement. We had a very straightforward situation – see below-right. Napoli had a spare man at the back, there was a 2 v 2 in the middle, and a wing-back battle on the flanks.

The only issue was the battle at the other end, although this was the same situation as in the first meeting between the sides. Marek Hamsik dropped back and played around Andrea Pirlo (opposition coaches have worked out that you simply can’t leave Pirlo free) rather than playing high up in a natural front three. Therefore, rather than a 3 v 3 at the back and Pirlo free (which would have made goals more likely, at either end), both sides had a spare man at the back, and it was even in midfield.

Movement

So where were the attacking moves going to come from? A decent bet would have been down the flanks, but none of the four wing-backs significantly got the better of their opponent. Stephane Lichtsteiner was more conservative than usual despite one good early cross for Borriello at the near post, and Christian Maggio didn’t last long before being replaced by Andrea Dossena, with Juan Zuniga moving to the other side.

Instead, the focus turned to how one side could outfox the other at the back, and try and void their opponent’s spare man. In theory, Napoli could have done this (especially on the break) with Hamsik moving past Pirlo and high up the pitch. But their transitions were poor – they usually intercept the ball on the edge of their own third and motor forward brilliantly, but here they barely constructed a break in the entire game. Therefore, Hamsik was playing as a midfielder, and Juve remained comfortable.

The four battlezones

At the other end, Napoli’s man-marking system meant their back three was being dragged around. In theory, Paolo Cannavaro was the spare man behind Hugo Campagnaro and Salvatore Aronica, but the movement of Borriello and Vucinic was decent (even if their all-round game and workrate without the ball was poor). Therefore, The Napoli defenders weren’t quite sure of who was picking up who, with Cannavaro often being drawn high up the pitch and leaving a big gap between the two remaining centre-backs. Other times, Aronica was drawn into the centre as Vucinic drifted laterally, but Arturo Vidal was often too deep to take advantage of this – he should have been motoring past Walter Gargano more.

Set-piece goal, Napoli respond poorly

The crucial goal was always going to be the opening goal, and Juve got it after half-time, thanks to a free-kick. The way the goal went in – off Cannavaro – was comical and fortunate, but Napoli had conceded far too many free-kicks within their own third, especially when you consider their previous problems in this area (and Pirlo’s brilliance).

Mazzarri then had to move to a more attacking approach, and he brought on Goran Pandev for Gokhan Inler. Hamsik moved a little deeper, but Napoli now seemed more like a front four than a front three, and they pressed Juve 4 v 4 high up the pitch at goal-kicks. This left Gargano on his own against Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, and when the Uruguyan picked up a booking soon after this change, you wondered how much Juve would attempt to attack towards him on the break, and how much longer he would remain on the pitch.

As it happens, Juve didn’t look to break too much – they focused on keeping the ball (which is, of course, also where their midfield advantage came into play). Mazzarri then brought on Blerim Džemaili for Hamsik and reverted to something more like the 3-4-3, albeit with Džemaili playing much higher up than Inler had been (his position was essentially between Inler’s and Hamsik’s, the two departed players).

Still, he was too high up the pitch to do much defensively, and Marchisio and Vidal promptly combined for a quick attack at the Napoli defence and Vidal fired in. Substitute Fabio Quagliarella rounded it off with a good third.

Conclusion

This was very tight and tense in the first half, and it seemed as if a clever change from either coach (probably Conte, the man more likely to switch formation midway through the season) would decide the game. It didn’t take that – Conte’s decision not to change his forwards at half-time was odd – and it was a set-piece that helped get the breakthrough. The use of Borriello (and three centre-backs) helped the set-piece threat, not that there was any great design behind the goal.

Juve were much the better side, however. They had more strength and more guile, and Napoli’s counter-attacking threat was never apparent.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Juventus overcome Napoli to close gap

at top of Serie A to two points

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus closed the gap on Milan, the Serie A leaders, to two points with a 3-0 victory over Napoli. An enthralling weekend of Italian action ended with second-placed Juve prevailing in Turin thanks to the defender Leonardo Bonucci using his knee to divert Mirko Vucinic's shot into the net. Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella ended Napoli's resolve.

After a shaky few weeks Juve can again smell a first title since their 2006 match-fixing demotion. The champions, Milan, drew 1-1 at Catania on Saturday amid more goal-line controversy when a Robinho effort was wrongly ruled not to have gone in.

"Over the last two weeks we've solidly beaten Inter and Napoli, two squads that began the season ahead of us," said the Juventus coach, Antonio Conte. "I keep thanking my players because they're doing something beautiful and extraordinary."

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Luigi Daniele 68]

Huge, huge win!

I am so happy for Bonucci and Quaglia @@

[Luigi Daniele 68]

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

After A.C. Milan were limited to a draw against the force that is Catania, Juventus were given a golden opportunity to re-open the Scudetto race. Unfortunately, they met Napoli, a talented team with perhaps the most explosive forwards in Serie A.

Before the match, many fans, myself included, thought that Napoli would be the greatest competition Juve faced this season. While Milan or Inter may have put up strong challenges against Juve, Napoli were the only team to really come close to beating Antonio Conte's side. When they played last November, Napoli was ahead 3-1, and it took a heroic effort from Juventus to come back and tie the match at 3-3.

Juventus started the match in the 3-5-2, which was Conte's response to Napoli's 3-4-2-1. The final special switch made by Conte was in player selection, as he picked Juve's worst striker Marco Borriello to start. Boriello, who was paired up top with Mirko Vucinic, was expected to use his size and physicality to wreak havoc on Napoli's back three. Instead, he spent most of his time falling down.

The first half didn't do much to assuage my fears as Juventus failed to score. However, I turned out to be worrying in vain, as Napoli would fail to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90 minutes.

Napoli's lack of on-target shots was due to the superior play of Juve's backline (the trio of Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, and Leonardo Bonucci) and their midfield. Both of these sectors made up for the dreadfulness of Juve's forwards. Vucinic did okay, but Borriello was absolutely horrible.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Vucinic showed some flashes of creativity during the first half, but the black hole that is Borriello swallowed up any scoring chances Juve may have had.

There were plenty of good moments for Juve in the first half. Giorgio Chiellini made some excellent tackles and beat Marek Hamsik in an aerial duel. Arturo Vidal was a tackling machine at midfield. Paolo De Ceglie, one week after making Javier Zanetti look like a fool, did the same to Lavezzi.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

The second half got off to a rocky start, as a Pirlo pass was intercepted deep in Juve's territory, but Chiellini bailed them out and swung the momentum back in Juve's favor.

Moments later, Juventus broke through. Pirlo crossed the ball into the box off of a free kick, Vucinic's ensuing shot deflected off Bonucci to get passed Morgan De Sanctis for the first goal of the match.

Napoli responded with three consecutive crosses that went for not, but the added pressure led to slew of substitutions from both sides.

Goran Pandev replaced Gokhan Inler for Napoli. Juventus brought in Martin Caceres for Stephan Lichtsteiner, Fabio Quagliarella for Borriello.

Right after the personnel changes, Claudio Marchisio set up Arturo Vidal for Juve's second goal. Vidal received the ball, dribbled around Napoli's defenders in a style that can only be described as Ronaldo-esque, and fired the ball past De Sanctis.

Conte's third and final substitution, Del Piero for Vucinic, made an immediate impact. With his first touch of the match, Del Piero released Quagliarella as Quags made a run into the box and after a deft shot, Juventus was up 3-0, where the score would remain for the rest of the match.

Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

With Milan drawing, the Scudetto race is again, very close. Milan has a two-point lead, so they basically cannot lose another match. If Milan were to draw next week (highly unlikely, as they play relegation candidate Fiorentina) and Juve were to win, both teams will be tied, and Juventus owns the tie breaker.

Juve's next match is away at Palermo, which could prove tricky. But after that, their strongest challenge will probably come from Roma, who they defeated 3-1 in their last meeting.

bleacherreport.com

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Player Ratings

Goal.com evaluates the performances of everyone involved in what proved a surprisingly

straightforward victory for the Scudetto-chasing Bianconeri at Juventus Stadium.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus

Gianluigi Buffon 6.0 - Was alive to the danger after Hamsik's neat one-two with Lavezzi and did well to force the Slovak wide. However, that minor scare aside, Buffon pretty much had nothing to do thereafter.

Giorgio Chiellini 6.5 - Made an important block on a shot from Lavezzi early on but, in truth, he was not exactly overworked by Napoli's much-vaunted attacking triumvirate. Indeed, Cavani looked particularly frustrated by just how comfortable an evening Chiellini enjoyed.

Paolo De Ceglie 6.0 - Defensively solid but he failed to make the most of the time and possession he was afforded in Napoli territory. Time and time again, he failed to beat the first man with his attempted crosses.

Andrea Barzagli 6.5 - Another Juve defender who did not really put a foot wrong, Barzagli also played a part in Bonucci's goal by firing the loose ball in the direction of Vucinic.

Leonardo Bonucci 6.5 - Enjoyed a fine return to the Juventus starting lineup, playing his part in a well-deserved clean sheet, while being in the right place at the right time to deflect a shot from Vucinic past De Sanctis.

Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.0 - Back in the starting lineup after missing the win over Inter through suspension, the Swiss got himself on the front foot right from the off and whipped in a terrific cross ten minutes in which Borriello headed just wide. However, he became less of a threat as the half wore on and, having grown increasingly frustrated, he talked himself into a booking shortly before the break.

Claudio Marchisio 6.0 - Linked well with Pirlo and Vidal at times but, for the most part, the Italy international was anonymous during the first half. Improved slightly after the break and tested De Sanctis with a strike from distance but then got himself booked for a cynical foul midfield.

Andrea Pirlo 7.0 - Started impressively, putting in the most inviting of crosses after just three minutes of play only to see Borriello fail to get his head on the end of it. Also sent in a terrific free-kick from the right-hand side which Vidal was unable to direct on target. Was a constant threat with his set-pieces.

Arturo Vidal Pardo 8.0 - Was tremendously neat and tidy in everything he did in the opening quarter and instigated the attack which should have seen Borriello give the hosts an early lead with a perfectly-weighted ball out to Pirlo on the left flank. Was unlucky with a header from a Pirlo free-kick which flashed wide but later doubled the home side's lead with a superb strike after bewitching Campagnaro with his footwork.

Mirko Vučinić 5.5 - Ridiculously lethargic and horribly sloppy in the early exchanges, Vucinic repeatedly gave the ball away and was robbed of possession by Maggio with embarrassing ease at one point. Improved after the interval, though, and it was his shot which deflected off Bonucci and into the Napoli goal.

Marco Borriello 5.0 - Surprisingly recalled to the Bianconeri attack, Borriello squandered an excellent opportunity to repay his coach’s faith in him by failing to get on the most wonderful in-swinging cross from Pirlo just four minutes in. Nodded wide soon after but he proved utterly incapable of holding the ball up whenever it was played into his feet in the first half.

• Substitutions

Martín Cáceres 5.5 - Perhaps harshly dropped from the starting lineup in light of his heroics against Inter last weekend, Caceres was thrown on in place of Lichtsteiner midway through the second half but was unable to make a big impact on the game.

Alessandro Del Piero 6.0 - Came on in closing stages and again made an impact, laying on an assist for Quagliarella.

Fabio Quagliarella 6.5 - Replaced Borriello for the final quarter and liked lively right from the off. De Sanctis was clearly at fault for his goal but Quagliarella's strike was clean and he won't be in the least bit concerned by just how it managed to sneak inside the near post.

SSC Napoli

Morgan De Sanctis 5.5 - Was not actually given much to do in the first half and could do little about either Juve's opener or Vidal's second. However, he was badly at fault for Quagliarella's goal by getting caught out at his near post.

Salvatore Aronica 5.5 - Did not actually perform too badly for hour but, just like those around him, he looked horribly vulnerable in the final stages.

Hugo Armando Campagnaro 5.0 - Played well in the first period, making several timely interceptions, but the overriding memory of his game will be the humiliating way in which he was turned inside out by Vidal before the Chilean struck Juve's second goal.

Juan Camilo Zúñiga 5.0 - Deserves credit for keeping Lichtsteiner quite for an hour and he also put over a few inviting crosses. However, his sending off for lashing out at Chiellini was the height of stupidity.

Paolo Cannavaro 6.0 - Slotted back seamlessly into the Napoli defence, leaving the ineffective Borriello floundering on numerous occasions before the forward was replaced by Quagliarella.

Christian Maggio 5.5 - Made an encouraging start to the game, stripping Vucinic of the ball as the Montenegrin shaped to shoot just outside the area. However, disaster struck on 26 minutes as he appeared to suffer a recurrence of the muscular problem which he suffered in the Coppa Italia win over Siena and was forced to leave the field.

Marek Hamsik 5.5 - Opened up the Juventus defence 14 minutes with a brilliant one-two with Lavezzi but in trying to round the onrushing Buffon, he knocked the ball just too far ahead of himself. Tried his luck from distance late in the half but his strike was high, wide and not so handsome. Faded badly as the game wore on and was replaced by Pandev on 71 minutes.

Walter Gargano 6.0 - Industrious as ever and frustrated Juve's creative midfield trio for long periods. However, he eventually ran out of steam.

Gökhan Inler 5.5 - Presented Hamsik with a clear sight of goal on 36 minutes after winning the ball in the middle of the park but his colleague fired over the bar but, in truth, he was not his usual dynamic self and he was withdrawn midway through the second half.

Edinson Cavani 5.5 - Impossible not to feel sorry for 'El Matador', who was horribly starved of possession and quality ball. Did not get his first sight of goal until deep into the second period - and even that was a long-range effort.

Ezequiel Lavezzi 5.5 - Put Hamsik in on goal just 15 minutes in with a nicely weighted through-ball only to see his team-mate run the ball out of play. Never stopped running but in spite of his best efforts, he was unable to make anything happen from an offensive perspective.

• Substitutions

Andrea Dossena 5.5 - Came on in the first half for Maggio and was unable to offer the same attacking prowess or indeed the defensive stability of the man he replaced.

Blerim Dzemaili 5.5 - Replaced the ineffective Hamsik but did manage to turn the tide in the Partenopei's favour.

Goran Pandev 5.5 - Thrown on in place of Inler and though he proved a willing runner, Pandev failed to provide the spark that Napoli were so badly lacking.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Arturo Vidal: We believe we can win the Scudetto

The Chilean star hailed the importance of his goal and says that his team remain

confident in the Italian title race after closing the cap to rivals AC Milan on Sunday.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal is hopeful that his side can finish the season at the top of the Serie A table following the 3-0 victory over Napoli.

After an uneventful first half from both clubs, Leonardo Bonucci, Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella gave the Bianconeri a comfortable win over the Partenopei.

The result sees Juventus close the gap to leaders AC Milan to just two points, and Vidal trusts his side's chances to go all the way in the competition.

"The goal I scored was spectacular and the team needed it at that time," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"After the second goal, everything became easier for us. We needed this victory to get within touching distance of the top.

"I think that coach Antonio Conte is doing a great job and the team has bounced back from a difficult moment.

"We believe we can win the Scudetto and we want to stay on this track until the end. We hope we can be champions."

Juventus will travel to Palermo on Saturday in their next Serie A fixture.

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Conte 'proud' of Juventus' after victory over Napoli

The 42-year-old coach praised the team's display against the Partenopei and insisted

that AC Milan remain favourites for the Serie A title despite reducing the gap at the top.

Apr 1, 2012

Juventus coach Antonio Conte was overjoyed with his side's display in the 3-0 victory against Napoli.

Second-half goals from Leonardo Bonucci, Arturo Vidal and Fabio Quagliarella saw the Bianconeri ease past Napoli to become just two points behind leaders AC Milan in the race for the Serie A title.

"In the last two weeks, we clearly beat Inter and Napoli, two sides who were ahead of us before the start of the season, in terms of quality and organisation," Conte told Sky Sport Italia.

"The victory against Napoli must be a source of pride because they are a great side who played very well in the Champions League and who are growing a lot under [coach] Walter Mazzarri.

"I am proud of my players and of what they did tonight. We are improving a lot from a psychological point of view."

Despite Juventus getting within touching distance of leaders AC Milan, who drew against Catania on Saturday, Conte was coy about his side's chances of winning the Scudetto.

"We will try to take advantage of any slip-ups that Milan make," Conte noted. "The title is Milan's to lose, because no one else has the same personnel than they do.

"The Rossoneri are a very strong side, who won the title last season and who are first despite having had so many players injured.

"They are also in the race for the Champions League trophy after drawing against Barcelona, the strongest side in the world."

Marco Borriello produced yet another lacklustre display for Juventus, but Conte refused to criticise the 29-year-old striker, who is on loan from Roma.

"Borriello has a lot of quality, and if he had arrived in June and had worked with us in the pre-season, his story would be much different," Conte said.

"He is growing now and he gave us a helping hand tonight."

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/

[Luigi Daniele 68]

Vidal showed that he is truly a class player @@

[Socrates 8386]

Serie A Week 30 - 1-4-2012 (8:45 p.m.)

3 - 0

Mirko Vučinić (53′)

Arturo Vidal Pardo (75′)

Fabio Quagliarella (83′)

Juventus Stadium - Turin

Referee: Daniele Orsato

Attendance: 34000‎

Vidal: 'Juve believe in Scudetto'

Apr 1, 2012

Arturo Vidal enjoyed his wonder strike to defeat Napoli 3-0 and confirmed Juventus “believe in the Scudetto.”

Tonight’s victory put the Bianconeri within two points of leaders Milan and Vidal scored the fierce second.

“It was a spectacular goal and one the team needed at that moment. After the second goal we were able to do everything much more easily.

“We had to win tonight so we could stay close to the leaders. I think Antonio Conte is doing a fantastic job and, after a dip in form, the team is giving a strong response.

“We believe in the Scudetto and want to continue like this until the end. We hope to be the champions.”

http://www.soccerway...regular-season/